The fourth-place finisher in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate is suggesting Gov. Chris Christie’s closest allies may have tried to rig the race to help re-elect Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

Murray Sabrin, a Ramapo College finance professor who’s run four times for statewide office as a Republican or Libertarian, says he was encouraged to seek the nomination by state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, a friend of Christie’s, who told him, "I would be the best candidate in the field because of my extensive knowledge of economic and financial issues."

Later, at the Union County GOP convention in March, Sabrin said he saw Christie confidant Bill Palatucci, "who didn’t say hello but said with a scowl on his face, ‘Have you ever written anything critical of Christie?’ " Indeed, Sabrin had, though he had also said nice things about the governor.

"As we talked it became more and more like the exchange with O’Brien in George Orwell’s 1984: " ‘It is not enough to obey, you must love him,’ " Sabrin noted.

Palatucci said he doesn’t remember the conversation that way: "We had a cordial conversation at some length ... where I asked Murray a number of questions, not just the one he chooses to recall," he said.

Sabrin rival Brian Goldberg got the most coveted county lines, doled out by local Republicans,despite having what Sabrin said was "no message, no fund-raising ability." But Jeff Bell, who did not compete for any county lines, won the nomination "despite the best efforts of some to anoint Brian Goldberg."

"Some have said that Jeff Bell and I have ideological connections to potential contenders for president in 2016. Others cite the friendly relationship the governor has with the former Newark mayor," Sabrin said. "In other words, Governor Christie and/or his advisers may prefer to have Cory Booker re-elected instead of a conservative Republican win the seat."

Palatucci called the charge "laughable and sour grapes. ... I didn’t have one conversation with one county chairman about the primary."

Meanwhile, Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), said when he spoke to Sabrin, "he was the only interesting candidate stepping up so far as I knew. He’s very bright, but you have to make your own breaks in this business. I endorsed no one in the primary."

You can’t utter the "T-word" around here!

Maybe the Senate Republicans didn’t get the memo.

Not only did they announce Wednesday their opposition more than two dozen revenue-raising measures in Christie’s budget, but they had the audacity to call one of them a "tax increase."

In a news release, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) and state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) pushed to eliminate "the proposed UEZ tax increase (which would end a specific sales tax exemption for businesses in Urban Enterprise Zones) because of the negative impact they would have on urban small businesses and the workforce."

In his budget address, Christie said his proposal "requires no new taxes on the people of New Jersey." At budget hearings, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff assiduously avoided saying "tax increase," preferring terms like "fairness" and "parity."

The Auditor wondered if such talk by the usually obedient Senate Republicans was taxing their relationship with the governor, but inquiries to both Christie and Senate Republicans went unanswered.

Revealing "The Sour on Salt Water Taffy Seven"

Even Willy Wonka would have to worry about politics in New Jersey.

On Monday, the Assembly passed a bill sponsored by John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) at the behest of Sayreville fifth graders to make salt water taffy the official state candy.

Some grumbled that the Legislature has better things to do. But others had another reason: Mars Chocolate North America, which makes M&M’s, is headquartered in Hackettstown, in or close to the districts represented by DiMaio, Peterson, McHose and Space.

"M&M's is not only a candy of New Jersey, but it’s probably the best-known and best-loved candy in the world," Peterson said. "Although I understand the uniqueness of salt water taffy from the Jersey Shore, I couldn’t do that to M&M's."

Casagrande cruises, Dancer in the dust

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Monmouth) wound up in the winner’s circle of the recent 2014 Legislators Race at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Paired at the charity event with driver Corey Callahan, she upset Assemblyman Ron Dancer (R-Ocean) — a former professional driver, who was paired with harness racing hall of famer John Campbell and finished last. State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) came in second, and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) finished third.

Casagrande got $1,000 for the Ashley Lauren Foundation, which helps children fighting cancer. The others got $500 for their charities. Casagrande credited the horse and Callahan.

Dancer marveled: "Up I pulled and tried to make a challenge to Caroline Casagrande. And I have to tell you, when it came around the last turn to the head of the stretch, she literally left me in the dust."